Hawthorn star Dylan Moore weighs in after club’s reported links to Oscar Allen

Hawthorn star Dylan Moore says he hopes the club is working behind the scenes to lure Eagles spearhead Oscar Allen to Victoria, amid reports linking the Hawks with a trade coup.

Star forward Dylan Moore hopes Hawthorn recruiters are working “in the background” to lure Oscar Allen to the club after reports linked the West Coast co-captain to the Hawks.

The Hawks’ vice-captain said he was eager for “any talent” to bolster an already strengthened side, which showed off key defensive recruits Tom Barrass and Josh Battle in the opening round win over Sydney on Friday night.

Hawthorn, who deployed a small forward line against the Swans without veteran Jack Gunston or injured duo Calsher Dear and Mitch Lewis, would be filling one of few missing pieces with an experienced goalkicker.

“I think any talent trying to come through the door is great,” Moore said after landing in Melbourne on Saturday.

“That’s not something that I’m that interested in – I don’t work in recruiting – but hopefully they’re doing something in the background.”

Allen celebrates a goal against the Hawks in 2020.

Former Eagles coach Adam Simpson moved to shut down speculation the 25-year-old Allen would leave the club, saying “he wants to stay”.

Allen booted 53 goals in 2023, but a knee injury in round 1 last year restricted him to just 11 games in his first year as skipper.

He returned for the final 10 games of the season and kicked 20 goals.

The 196cm forward is understood to be keen to stay at West Coast, but the club’s lack of a concrete long-term deal is forcing him to go to market to consider rival offers.

West Coast has been burnt by a series of long-term deals for players in their 30s, and is determined to avoid any uneccessary risk with its list management.

At one stage over the summer, the Eagles proposed a contract that could offer him five years but he would have needed to have hit certain triggers to get the full tenure.

Rival clubs would be prepared to take the risk on his knee issues and offer him a longer term deal than West Coast – likely more than five years.

Allen has also been linked with Brisbane Lions. Picture: Janelle St Pierre/Getty Images

But clubs would be keen to have Allen undergo a thorough medical before handing him that long-term contract.

Jake Waterman’s emergence as a star All-Australian forward means the Eagles forward line would not be bereft if Allen headed for the door.

The Eagles would likely trigger first-band compensation in the form of a top-six pick should Allen depart for a rival club.

“I’m just hoping (Allen and the Eagles) work it out,” Simpson told SEN on Saturday.

“There’s some things I can’t talk about, because it’s not the right thing to do. I’m still pretty close, obviously, to my exit. But let’s hope they can work it out.”

Originally published as Hawthorn star Dylan Moore weighs in after club’s reported links to Oscar Allen